Subject: IWG Stockton California Letter
From: Interfaith Working Group <[email-masked]>
Date: Sun, 16 Nov 1997 23:24:06 -0500 (EST)

The following went out on IWG letterhead listing 12 congregations and religious
organizations and 50 clergy from 15 faiths and denominations. If you are in 
the general Philadelphia area and represent a congregation or religious 
organization or are clergy, let us know if you want to be added - all faiths 
are welcome. We will also be happy to help start similar organizations in 
other areas.

November 16, 1997

Stockton Record
530 E. Market St.
Stockton,CA, 95202

Dear Editors:

In his letter of November 11,  Christopher Larson
consistently and incorrectly refers to Christianity as
though it were a large monolithic set of beliefs,
especially with regard to sexual behavior and morality.
In his conclusion he says that we must treat people
with respect and kindness even if we do not approve of
their beliefs and attitudes.  The question he has
failed to address directly is whether legal recognition
should be classified as "respect and kindness" or
"approval."   As American law recognizes the validity
of many religious traditions, Christian and otherwise,
which have conflicting views on many subjects, it
should be obvious that legal recognition is a sign of
respect, kindness and mutual benefit which helps all of
society without making any statements about whether any
particular belief meets with our approval.

The organizations and individual clergy members
affiliated with our organization, many of whom are
Christian, do not believe that mixed-gender
relationships are morally superior to same-gender
relationships; but this does not in any way stop us
from supporting the legal recognition of religions with
different beliefs.  

Sincerely,
Barbara Purdom     Christopher Purdom
Interfaith Working Group Coordinators

-- 

Interfaith Working Group                Religious organizations, congregations
[email-masked]                      and clergy supporting gay rights,
http://www.libertynet.org/~iwg/         reproductive freedom, and the 
215-235-3050                            separation of church and state.